egg

²egg

noun, often attributive

Definition of EGG

1

a : the hard-shelled reproductive body produced by a bird and especially by the common domestic chicken; also : its contents used as food b : an animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum together with its nutritive and protective envelopes and having the capacity to develop into a new individual capable of independent existence c : ovum

2

: something resembling an egg

3

: person, sort <a good egg>

— egg·less adjective

— eggy \ˈe-gē, ˈā-\ adjective

— egg on one's face

: a state of embarrassment or humiliation

Examples of EGG

1. The egg will hatch about 10 days after it is laid.
2. the smell of rotten eggs
3. I bought a carton of eggs.
4. a batter made from flour and egg
5. The egg is fertilized by the sperm.

Illustration of EGG

Origin of EGG

Middle English egge, from Old Norse egg; akin to Old English ǣg egg, Latin ovum, Greek ōion

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EGG

Synonyms: baby, being, bird, bod [British], body, character, cookie (or cooky), creature, customer, devil, duck, human, face, fish, guy, head, human being, individual, life, man, mortal, party, person, personage, scout, slob, sort, soul, specimen, stiff, thing, wight

Related Words: hominid, homo, humanoid; brother, fellow, fellowman, neighbor; celebrity, personality, self, somebody

Near Antonyms: animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

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Other Embryology Terms

gravid, neonate, ontogeny, parturition